Signal Transduction Pathways Flashcards, test questions and answers
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What is Signal Transduction Pathways?
Signal transduction pathways are complex networks of biochemical and molecular processes that allow cells to detect and respond to changes in their extracellular environment. In short, these pathways provide a means for cells to sense and respond to signals from their environment and other cells.The initial step in any signal transduction pathway is the recognition of an external signal by specific receptors on the cell surface. These receptors can be either membrane-bound or cytoplasmic proteins, which detect molecules such as hormones, neurotransmitters, growth factors, or toxins. Once activated by a receptor-ligand interaction, the signaling molecules initiate a cascade of reactions inside the cell resulting in an appropriate cellular response. The most common response is gene expression regulation leading to protein synthesis or degradation. The next step in signal transduction pathways is propagation through secondary messengers such as cyclic AMP (cAMP), calcium ions (Ca2+), diacylglycerol (DAG) or phosphatidylinositol (PI3K). Secondary messengers typically serve as intermediaries between primary signaling molecules and effector proteins such as enzymes and ion channels that ultimately elicit the desired cellular response. Many different types of signaling cascades exist depending on what type of receptor molecule initiates them; some examples include G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), tyrosine kinase receptors, apoptosis regulators and more recently discovered Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Each type of pathway involves distinct sets of intracellular components that work together to activate downstream effectors responsible for producing a particular cellular response. Signal transduction pathways play critical roles in many biological processes including cell proliferation & differentiation, metabolism regulation & homeostasis maintenance; immune system activation & defense mechanisms; DNA repair & integrity control; development & tissue patterning; stress responses; sensory perception; memory formation etc. Malfunctioning signal transduction pathways are often linked with various diseases including cancer, diabetes mellitus and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease etc. Therefore understanding how these cascades function may lead to new therapeutic strategies for treating these diseases.